Cylindrical door latch



1965 F. N. STOPPENBACH 3,279,837

CYLINDRICAL DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 23, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY k ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1966 F. N. STOPPENBACH 3,279,837

CYLINDRI CAL DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 23, 1964 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR I BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,279,837 CYLINDRICAL DOOR LATCH Frank N. Stoppenbach, 331 Fairway Drive, Franklin Square, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,641 15 Claims. (Cl. 292-223 This invention relates to door latches, and more particularly, to an improved type of latch mechanism and catch for use with a swinging door mounted in a frame, the frame having lip means thereon preventing passage of a door therethrough.

More specifically, the present invention is so constructed to overcome the distinct disadvantages of construction inherent in all door latches in use today. These door latches usually comprise an operating mechanism contained in a box-like structure which is fitted within the outer frame of the door. This mechanism casing is equipped with an aperture therethrough for receiving a turnable handle bolt which, operating through the latch mechanism, slides a door catch horizontally in and out of contact with a catch chamber formed in the frame around the door. In addition, the latch mechanism includes spring means urging the catch horizontally outwardly of the door so as to engage the frame of the door when said door is pushed shut. This type of latch construction possesses a number of disadvantages such as succeptibility of being jammed and being difiicult to mount properly. This type of door latch is easily jammed because the door catch is slidable within the casing, thereby subjecting the mechanism to frictional wear and eventual dislodgement. Difficulty in mounting this type of latch occurs due to the square shape of the casing, which requires a similar cut in the door for proper placement. More importantly, the slidable door catch has a double face thereon so that it may be pushed into the latch chamber upon contact with the door frame. Thus, any given latch mechanism of this type must be used with a door that swing away from the bevelled base of the door catch. 'If this given latch mechanism is inserted in a door swinging in the same direction as the bevelled face of the door catch, it will be inoperable, and the entire latch mechanism must be removed and rotated about its center 180. This operation usually requires modification of the door itself to meet the situation. The present invention is directed to a solution of these problems by providing a door latch mechanism which is mounted within a symmetrical, cylindrical casing. Additionally, the invention includes a unique catch device which is pivotally, rather than slidably mounted within the latch mechanism.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a door latch mechanism adaptable to any type of swinging door.

It is another object of this invention to provide a door latch mechanism having movable parts susceptible to a minimum of frictional wear.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a door latch having a unique, pivotally mounted catch selectively secured with respect to the door latch mechanism.

Finally, it is an on object of this invention to provide a door latch of optimum simplicity of construction and therefore of minimum manufacturing cost.

These and more specific objects and advantages of the "ice present invention may be had by reference to the following specification and drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the interior of the invention, showing the same mounted in a swinging door;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the catch of the invention in retracted position;

FIG. 5 is a view, in perspective, of the rotatable barrel element of the invention;

FIG. 6 is another view, in perspective, of the lever of the invention;

FIG. 7 is yet another view, in perspective, showing the spring of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view, in perspective, of the unique door catch of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing by reference character, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the invention is shown mounted in a door 10 having a generally cylindrical bore 12 adapted to receive the invention, indicated by reference numeral 14, therein. Door 10, of course, is mounted within a suitable door frame (not shown) and the swinging motion of said door is limited by a vertical stop 16 mounted along one side of vertical door frame member 18. Door frame member 18 is further provided with the usual catch chamber 20 having a face plate 22 secured therearo-und by means of screws 24. Door 10 is further provided with a pair of door knobs 30, secured to either end of an operating spindle 26, mounted through the invention and through bores 28, 28, transversely of door 10.

The movable members of invention 14 are enclosed within a cylindrical casing comprising mating semi-cylindrical members 32 and 34. A pair of screws 36, 38, are used to secure the casings together. Casing members 32 and 34 are maintained immobile by the close fit of bore 12 and by a pair of face plate members 40 and 42 secured to door 10 by screws 44. F ace plate 40 is rigidly secured to casing 32 as by welding, or, alternatively, casing 32 and face plate 40 may be formed as a unitary casting.

Referring now to the remaining figures of the drawings, the moving members of the invention comprise a rotatable spindle barrel 46, U-sha-ped lever 48, spring lever member 50, and a pivotally mounted catch 52. Barrel 46, illustrated in FIG. 5, is provided with a square boring 54 therein for receiving the box-shaped operating spindle 26. Barrel 46 is rotatably secured within casings 32 and 34 by bosses 56 and 58 respectively. A pair of stop projections 60 and 62, mounted on barrel 46 are used to limit rotational movement of said barrel by coaction with secondary stop projections 64 and 66, respectively, formed on casing 32. Lever 48 comprises a strand of wire bent into a pair of arms 68 and 70. The end of arm 68 is turned into a hook or abutment 72 which fits around a prong abutment 71 extending upwardly from the barrel 46. Arm has a circular boss 74 secured at the end thereof, boss 74 having a secondary lever arm or abutment 76 secured rearwardly of lever arm 70. Secondary arm 76 is associated with a pedal arm or abutment 78 which is secured to barrel 46. Boss 74 is rotatably mounted on a spindle 80 secured to the inner wall of casing 32. Spring 50 is mounted on projection 82 of casing 32 and extends under enlarged base 84 of spindle 80. A single turn is formed approximately medially of the length of spring 50 about bend 86 of lever 48, as indicated at 88. The outer end of spring 50 is bent into a hook 89, extending through a link element 90 pivotally secured to the base of catch 52.

Referring now to FIG. 1 and to FIG. 8 in particular, the unique catch 52 of the invention will 'be described in detail. Catch 52 is in the general shape of one-eighth of a sphere, having two planar faces opposed at right angles a third creased face opposed at 90 to each of the first two faces and a spherical right triangle joining the three above faces. The crease of the third face begins at the center of the sphere and extends outwardly in a curved manner to the approximate median point of the spherical right triangle. The purpose of the creased face will be explained below.

A pair of opposed bores 92 and 94 are formed within the upper planar edges thereof, said bores serving as selective bearings for a pin element 96 rigidly secured within indent 98 of face plate 40. Link element 99 is secured through catch 52 at the base thereof, beneath the junction point of bores 92 and 94.

.An understanding of the operation of the invention may be had by reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. If door knob 30 is turned in a counter-clockwise fashion, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, this will transmit a force through operating spindle 26 and barrel 46 to prong 71, thereby exerting a secondary force on lever arm 68 which forces bend 86 upwardly, and axially about spindle 80 as shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, catch 52 will be forced to rotate axially about pin 96, in a clockwise fashion by the pull of book 89 on link 90. Thus catch 52 is retracted out of contact with chamber 20 in door frame 18.. When door knob 30 is released, the tension in spring 50, acting through hook 89 and link 90, will force catch 52 axially outwardly, about pin 96. If door knob 30 is rotated in a clockwise fashion with respect to FIGS. 2 and 4, pedal arm 78 will be forced downwardly against lever arm element 76 thereby lifting bend 86 and moving catch 52 as described above. Thus prong 71 and hook 72 form a first lost motion connection for pivoting catch 52 operative by a counterclockwise rotation of knob 30, while pedal 78 and arm 76 form a second lost motion connection for pivoting catch, 52, operative by a clockwise rotation of knob 30.

Catch 52 may be mounted onpin 96 through bore 94 if stop 16 is placed on the opposite side of door frame 18, or if the door is shifted from a left hand swinging motion to a right hand swinging motion. This is the reason for the creased face of catch 52; the outward strike 100 of door frame 18 will act on either inwardly bevelled cam face of door catch 52 to force the same inwardly about pin 96 against the urging of spring 50. Normally, only one of the bevelled cam faces of catch 52 will engage strike 100 to pivot catch 52 inwardly, such as the outer bevelled face of catch 52, as shown best by FIGURE 1, when bore 92 is used for mounting. However, dependent on the mounting of the invention, at least a portion of the second, inner cam face of catch 52 (FIG- URE 1) might engage strike 100 to initiate the inward pivotal movement of catch 52, followed by contact of the outer cam face with strike 100 to complete the pivotal movement of catch 52. When door 10 reaches a closed position, spring 50, acting against catch 52 will force the same outwardly into chamber of door frame 18.

It can be determined from the foregoing that I have invented a new and useful universally adapted door latch which is a significant contribution to the art. Therefore, I am not to be limited to the strict construction provided for herein, except as may be deemed limited by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a latching mechanism, the combination of a movable catch; a lever member connected to said catch and mounted to move said catch in projected and retracted positions; an operating spindle having connection means thereon; and an element pivotally mounted adjacent said spindle and extending from its pivot to said lever member and being operatively connected with said lever member and with said connection means so that rotation of said spindle causes said element to rotate, and to move said lever member for operation of said catch.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the operative connection between the element and connection means comprises a lost motion connection operative to retract said catch when said spindle is rotated in one direction.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said spindle has an abutment means operabie to engage a part of said element to retract'said catch when said spindle is rotated in the other direction.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said element comprises a V-shaped wire.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the said lever member comprises a spring element mounted to bias said catch to its projected position.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said spindle and element are mounted to pivot about horizontal axes.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said catch is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said catch is provided with two alternative pivot means formed along intersecting horizontal right angle axes, and a symmetrical working face, comprising two cam faces, one for eachof said pivot means, each said cam face adapted to engage a strike to pivot the catch about its corresponding pivot means. 7

9. A mechanism for operatively connecting a spindle to a catch comprising a pivotally mounted element adapted to be operatively connected to a spindle for rotation by the spindle; and a spring lever element having means at one end for connection to acatch and being mounted at the other end to bias said catch in a projected position; a free end of said pivotally mounted element being operatively connected to a medial portion of said spring lever element.

10. The mechanism as defined in the claim 9 wherein the said spring lever element comprises a single wire element having a single twist at said medial portion thereof.

11. A mechanism for operatively connecting a spindle to a catch comprising a generally V-shaped element pivotally mounted adjacent to but spaced from the end of one of its legs; said one leg having first abutment means at its end for engagement with first cooperating abutment means on the spindle when the spindle is moved in one direction; the end of the other leg having second abutment means for engagement with second cooperating abutment means on the spindle when the spindle is moved in the other direction; the apex of said V-shaped element being connected to a lever mounted at one end and adapted for connection at its other end to the catch. 1

12. A substantially symmetrical catch, for use in a latch mechanism, having two alternative pivot means along intersecting axes which lie substantially at right angles to one another; and having adjacent cam faces each of which is shaped'to engage a strike to pivot said catch about its corresponding pivot means when said pivot means is positioned substantially horizontally to mount said catch.

13. A catch as defined in claim 12, wherein said catch has a single means, for connecting said catch to an operating mechanism, positioned for use when either of said pivot means is employed.

14. A catch as defined in claim 13, including means for connecting said catch to said mechanism while permitting rotation of said catch to eithtr of its alternative rotating positions.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,772 1/ 1901 Diffendaffer 292244 1,261,060 4/1918 Seckinger 70125 1,542,916

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

6/ 1925 Skogerson 292 223 10 R. E. MOORE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LATCHING MECHANISM. THE COMBINATION OF A MOVABLE CATCH; A LEVER MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID CATCH AND MOUNTED TO MOVE SAID CATCH IN PREJECTED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS; AN OPERATING SPLINDLE HAVING CONNECTION MEANS THEREON; AND AN ELEMENT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID SPINDLE AND EXTENDING FROM ITS PIVOT TO SAID LEVER MEMBER AND BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID LEVER MEMBER AND WITH SAID CONNECTION MEANS SO THAT ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE CAUSES SAID ELEMENT TO ROTATE, AND TO MOVE SAID LEVER MEMBER FOR OPERATION OF SAID CATCH. 